Leveler



Sept. 8, 1931. H R, LYTLE 1,822,051

' LEVELER Filed Feb. 21, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR H. R. LYTLE Sept. 8, 1931.

LEVELER Filed Feb. 21, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR H.R.L ytL8 BYQ ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- HARRY R. LYTLE, OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ON E-HALF TO DAMON R. THROOP, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA LEVELER Application filed February 21, 1930. Serial No. 430,233.

This invention relates to levelers, and particularly to one of large size which is operated by hydraulic power.

The principal object of my invention is toprovide a leveler of this character so con- .structed that an extremely simple control mechanism is provided, which is so arranged that a very efliecient raising and lowering movement of the leveler blade is had; and so that when raising, the blade tends to draw away from the dirt and thus avoids excessive friction; and when being lowered, the blade will dig into the dirt with a slanting chisel-like action rather than being forced straight down. As a result the strainson the operating mechanism when in operatlon are lessened and the parts may be made considerably lighter, than would otherwise be the case.

A further object is to assemble the structure so that it may be easily disassociated into two separate units, facilitating shipping of the structure while avoiding the necessity of dismantling the same entirely.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig." 1 is a side elevation of my improved leveler showing the blade adjacent a scraping position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showlng the blade as raised to a leveling position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the leveler.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan View partly in section showing the means for detachably connecting the front cross-beam to the side frame beams.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings the numeral 1 denotes a front-end tongue, which is ri id with and permanently connected to the ront cross frame beam 2. The tongue and beam are hollow built-up parts, so that the unit is extremely rigid while being substantially light. Secured to and pro ectplates 7 which extend from top to bottom of the back plate; the latter being provided along the bottom with a cutting blade 8 which normally sets at a forward angle to the ground. At their forward ends the side plates intermediate the top and bottom are pivotally connected to the side frames 3 and to brackets 9 by pins 10. The brackets 9 are secured on the back faceof the beam 2.

Pivoted on brackets 11 mounted on the side frames 3 toward the rear end of the leveler device are substantially triangular plates 12 which are in effect bellcranks. From the lower rear ends of these bellcranks links 13 depend, which at their lower ends are pivoted onto the side plates 7. ward ends forwardly to pivotal connections with the upper ends of arms 15. These arms extend radially from and are rigid with a transversely extending shaft 16 journaled on top of the beam 2. Centrally between its'ends this shaft has another upstanding arm 17 secured thereto, to the upper end of which a piston rod 18 is pivoted. This rod projects from the piston of a cylinder 19 which is mounted for vertical swivel movement on and between brackets 20 secured on the tongue 1. Flexible feed pipes 21 are connected to the ends of the cylinder and extend forwardly to a From the upper forsuitable pressure supply means mounted on of the bellcranks bars 14 extend position where it is not in the path of the dirt, and whose connections with the leveler are also arranged so as to leave the dirt carrying area of the leveler entirely unobstructed. Owing to the position of the pivotal pins 10 of the leveler relative to the blade 8 the downward movement of said blade is accomplished by a forward movement of the same, so that the blade has a tendency to angle its way into the dirt instead of moving straight down, and thereby relieving the strains on the operating mechanism. On the other hand when the blade is being raised it has a tendency to back away from the dirt confined by the side and back plates of the leveler, also considerably relieving friction.

The beam 2 comprises transversely extending and longitudinally spaced channels 23 to which top and bottom plates P are rigidly secured so as to form a hollow box-like structure. The ends of the beam between the channels are closed by heavy U-plates 24 suitably secured. The inner faces of the frames 3 which are also preferably of channel form, abut against the outer faces of the U plates and are removably bolted to said plates and also to straps 25 which are disposed outwardly of the frames and which at their front ends are bent across the front of the beam 2 a short distance and are rigidly secured thereto. These straps also take the outer ends of the pins 10 so thatthe strains on the frames 8 are lessened. By means of this construction itwill be seen that it is easy to form one unit of the tongue and cross beam 2 and another one of the remainder of the frame; the length of these units by themselves being considerably less than their width. This makes it easier to ship the leveler than would otherwise be the case, owing to the restrictions as to the width of any parts which can be loaded on the cars and prevent an apparatus of this iize being so loaded when completely assemle It might happen that the blade or frame would become springy on one side of the other, permitting the scraping edge to dig deeper into the ground on one side than on the other. To enable such a setting of the blade to be counteracted, one of the bars 14 has a turnbuckle 14a incorporated therewith, so that said bar may be let out or taken in, raising or lowering the corresponding link 13 and the adjacent side of the bowl without affecting the arts on the other side From the oregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A leveler comprising a frame structure which includes side members, a blade disposed between the side members, means pivoting the blade in connection with the frame at points forwardly of the blade, a transverse shaft mounted on the frame, in front of the blade, means for turning the shaft, and connections between the shaft and the blade p1v-.

oting means for raising and lowering the blade with the turning of the shaft.

2. A leveler comprising a frame structure which includes side members, a blade disposed between the side members, side plates projecting forwardly from the blade, pivotal connections between said plates and the frame at the forward ends of the plates, a transverse turnable shaft mounted on the frame, and connections between the shaft and side plates for raising and lowering the plates and blade with the turning of the shaft.

3. A leveler comprising a frame structure which includes side members, a blade disposed between the side members, side plates projecting forwardly from the blade, pivotal connections between said plates and the frame at the forward ends of the plates, a transverse turnable shaft mounted on the frame, arms projecting upwardly from the shaft, bellcranks pivoted on the side members of the frame toward the rear ends of the side plates, links depending from one end of the bellcranks and connected to the side plates, longitudinal'bars connected to said arms and to the other end of the bellcranks, and means for turning the shaft.

4:. A leveler comprising a frame structure Which inclHdes Side members, a blade disposed between the side members, side plates projecting forwardly from the blade, bellcranks pivoted on the side members of the frame toward the rear ends of the side plates, links depending from one end of the bellcranks to the side plates and disposed to cause said plates and the blade to be raised and lowered with the turning of the bellcranks, and means on the frame for thus turning the bellcranks.

5. A leveler comprising a frame structure which includes side members, a blade disposed between the side members, side plates projecting forwardly from the side edges of the blades and secured thereto, pivot means between the forward ends of said plates and the frame, bell-cranks pivoted on the side members of the frame toward the rear ends of the side plates, links depending from one end of the bellcranks to the side plates and disposed to cause said plates and the blade to be raised and lowered with the turning of the bellcranks, bars connected to the other end of the bell-cranks, means applied in common bellcranks, and means provided with one bar for altering the operative length of the same without affecting the other bar.

6. A leveler comprising a frame'structure which consists of side members, a cross-beam connecting the forward ends of said members, and a tongue rigid with and projecting forwardly from the cross-beam, a blade disposed between the side members rearwardly of the cross beam, means pivoting the blade for vertical movement in connection with the side members, a transverse shaft journaled on the cross-beam, connections between the shaft and blade, pivoting means for raising and lowering the blade with the rotation of the shaft, and means mounted on the tongue for thus rotating the shaft.

7. In a leveler or like implement, a main frame comprising separate side members, and a unitary tongue and cross-beam structure separate from the side members; the forward ends of the latter being abutted against the ends of the cross-beam, angle straps, one leg of each of which extends along the forward side of and is rigidly secured to the cross-beam while the other leg overlaps and engages the outer face of the corresponding side member, and removable bolts through said strap, side member, and the end of the cross-beam.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HARRY R. LYTLE. 

